Youths, residents will hold repair, improvement day

Published: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 2:42 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 2:42 p.m.

About 400 high school and youth volunteers from across the country will participate Saturday in a one-day volunteer blitz in Davidson County.

Facts

Want to help?

The Big Day of Serving will take place Saturday. Organizers of the event need a limited amount of volunteers, and anyone interested in helping can call the Lexington Housing Community Development Corp. at 236-1675 or Jonathan Bush at 248-3900, ext. 3358. Tax-deductible donations for materials are still being accepted. Checks can be made payable to the LHCDC with 'Big Day' written in the memo line and mailed to P.O. Box 933, Lexington, NC 27293.

As part of the Big Day of Serving, groups will meet at the Davidson County Fairgrounds for their assignments before departing to nonprofit facilities, public walkways and homes across Davidson County in need of repair or improvements. The homes have been identified by a team put together by Lexington native and contractor Marc Lamoureaux with the assistance of the City of Lexington, the Lexington Housing Community Development Corp. and the Lexington Area Habitat for Humanity.

Saturday's Big Day of Serving is being held in collaboration with Group Mission Trips, formerly known as the Group WorkCamps Foundation. The nonprofit provides the opportunity for youths to have mission trips focused on home repair. Projects in Davidson County on Saturday will include landscaping for elderly and disabled individuals, painting and debris removal.

A team of local church representatives and Lamoureaux have been preparing for the project since May. Local agencies and churches have committed to coordinate hospitality, meals, materials delivery, site reviews and trash pick-up. Lamoureaux said the work will be mainly in the city of Lexington with some in the county as well.

Lamoureaux hopes "to make as big of an impact as possible," he said. "Unfortunately with the times we are in, this world has became a selfish place and because of that, the need is greater than it has ever been. We are going to be helping a lot of people who are really deserving. … I just feel like we are called by a higher power to serve, therefore that should be our greatest ambition as human beings to go out and serve others."

Antionette Kerr, executive director of the LHCDC, said Lamoureaux approached her nonprofit regarding assisting on projects. She said the LHCDC typically has a waiting list for elderly and disabled residents who need urgent repairs to their property.

"When Marc approached us, we were very excited," Kerr said. "… I was excited that he was willing to be the lead on the Big Day of Serving. … It's been really neat that a lot of young people have been working as leaders on this project. I have to give credit to Marc and his wife, Lori."

Jonathan Bush, a Lexington native and city planner with the City of Lexington, said he's hoping the event will be held annually prior to the Barbecue Festival. He said Saturday's work will assist in making sure visitors have a great impression when visiting the Barbecue Festival and also help residents who are unable to make repairs.

"We appreciate all of the local volunteer support Lamoureaux has gathered for the day of serving," Bush said. "We are looking forward to the big day. It's an honor to participate in giving back to Lexington."

Marjorie Parker is the executive director of the Lexington Area Habitat for Humanity.

"I have been so impressed with Marc Lamoureaux and the efforts with coordinating this to make it a successful day for the volunteers and the City of Lexington," Parker said.

The group needs a limited amount of volunteers, and anyone interested in helping can call the LHCDC at 236-1675 or Bush at 248-3900, ext. 3358. Tax-deductible donations for materials are still being accepted. Checks can be made payable to the LHCDC with "Big Day" written in the memo line and mailed to P.O. Box 933, Lexington, NC 27293.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>About 400 high school and youth volunteers from across the country will participate Saturday in a one-day volunteer blitz in Davidson County.</p><p>As part of the Big Day of Serving, groups will meet at the Davidson County Fairgrounds for their assignments before departing to nonprofit facilities, public walkways and homes across Davidson County in need of repair or improvements. The homes have been identified by a team put together by Lexington native and contractor Marc Lamoureaux with the assistance of the City of Lexington, the Lexington Housing Community Development Corp. and the Lexington Area Habitat for Humanity. </p><p>Saturday's Big Day of Serving is being held in collaboration with Group Mission Trips, formerly known as the Group WorkCamps Foundation. The nonprofit provides the opportunity for youths to have mission trips focused on home repair. Projects in Davidson County on Saturday will include landscaping for elderly and disabled individuals, painting and debris removal.</p><p>A team of local church representatives and Lamoureaux have been preparing for the project since May. Local agencies and churches have committed to coordinate hospitality, meals, materials delivery, site reviews and trash pick-up. Lamoureaux said the work will be mainly in the city of Lexington with some in the county as well.</p><p>Lamoureaux hopes "to make as big of an impact as possible," he said. "Unfortunately with the times we are in, this world has became a selfish place and because of that, the need is greater than it has ever been. We are going to be helping a lot of people who are really deserving. … I just feel like we are called by a higher power to serve, therefore that should be our greatest ambition as human beings to go out and serve others."</p><p>Antionette Kerr, executive director of the LHCDC, said Lamoureaux approached her nonprofit regarding assisting on projects. She said the LHCDC typically has a waiting list for elderly and disabled residents who need urgent repairs to their property.</p><p>"When Marc approached us, we were very excited," Kerr said. "… I was excited that he was willing to be the lead on the Big Day of Serving. … It's been really neat that a lot of young people have been working as leaders on this project. I have to give credit to Marc and his wife, Lori."</p><p>Jonathan Bush, a Lexington native and city planner with the City of Lexington, said he's hoping the event will be held annually prior to the Barbecue Festival. He said Saturday's work will assist in making sure visitors have a great impression when visiting the Barbecue Festival and also help residents who are unable to make repairs.</p><p>"We appreciate all of the local volunteer support Lamoureaux has gathered for the day of serving," Bush said. "We are looking forward to the big day. It's an honor to participate in giving back to Lexington."</p><p>Marjorie Parker is the executive director of the Lexington Area Habitat for Humanity.</p><p>"I have been so impressed with Marc Lamoureaux and the efforts with coordinating this to make it a successful day for the volunteers and the City of Lexington," Parker said.</p><p>The group needs a limited amount of volunteers, and anyone interested in helping can call the LHCDC at 236-1675 or Bush at 248-3900, ext. 3358. Tax-deductible donations for materials are still being accepted. Checks can be made payable to the LHCDC with "Big Day" written in the memo line and mailed to P.O. Box 933, Lexington, NC 27293.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>